WASHINGTON, D.C., March 6, 2013—Today, the Equal Rights Center (ERC), a national non-profit civil rights organization, announced an initiative with The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) to promote accessibility at TJX’s stores throughout the United States.

“This collaboration between the Equal Rights Center and TJX shows that TJX truly values all of its customers, including the millions of shoppers with disabilities.” said Don Kahl, Executive Director of the ERC, “As an industry leader and a Fortune 500 company, TJX, along with other ERC partners including national homebuilder NVR, Inc., developers Trammell Crow Residential, AvalonBay Communities, and Camden Property Trust, and restaurateurs Panera Bread and Pret A Manger, understand that promoting equal opportunity is not only the right thing to do, it’s good business.”

TJX and the ERC will work collaboratively to review accessibility at TJX’s U.S. locations, including TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods stores. The ERC will also work closely with TJX on the training of its associates on accessibility standards and customer service for people with disabilities.

The ERC’s Corporate Partnerships and Training (CPT) Program will lead the collaboration for the ERC. The CPT Program builds relationships with business and industry to promote equal access and opportunity for all as a component of corporate culture, and to demonstrate the economic benefits of promoting civil rights as part of a sound business strategy. Through its work with a diverse group of businesses, the ERC and its partners have improved accessibility at nearly 60,000 housing units and more than 50,000 retail locations nationwide, and have trained thousands of executives, managers, and other employees on accessibility regulations, diversity in the workplace, fair housing laws, and other civil rights issues.

“The ERC is pleased to welcome TJX to our rapidly growing group of corporate partners who are committed to accessibility and value inclusiveness as a best practice,” said Victoria Lanteigne, Corporate Partnerships and Training Program Manager at the ERC. “Changing the way businesses view accessibility, the ERC’s corporate partners are proactively improving the lives of countless individuals as a part of a sound business model.”

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About the Equal Rights Center (www.equalrightscenter.org)
Originally formed in 1983, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) is a national non-profit civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C. With members located in every state and the District of Columbia, the ERC works nationally to promote equal opportunity in housing, employment, disability rights, immigrant rights, and access to public accommodations and government services for all protected classes under federal, state, and local laws.